The Children's Court Clinic in
New South Wales
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, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
, part of the
Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, is a
medico-legal clinic established pursuant to Section 15B of the and the ''
Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998'' (NSW) which prepares independent reports on children for legal proceedings before the
Children's Court of New South Wales
The Children's Court of New South Wales is a court within the Australian court hierarchy established in 1905. The current iteration was established on 18 January 1988 pursuant to the which deals with criminal offences committed by children aged ...
.
Constitution
The clinic is established under the and its function is further specified according to sections 52-59 of the ''
Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998'' (NSW). As of 1 July 2011 the
Minister for Health A health minister is the member of a country's government typically responsible for protecting and promoting public health and providing welfare and other social security services.
Some governments have separate ministers for mental health.
Coun ...
was required to establish the clinic in accordance with the
Children's Court Rule 2000 (NSW).
An assessment report by the clinic is taken to be an independent report to the Court rather than evidence tendered by a party (section 59, the Care and Protection Act). The Children’s Court Clinic authorised clinician who prepares a report is nevertheless available to the court for cross-examination. Under the Court's rules, the clinic is composed of the Director of the Children’s Court Clinic and any other persons appointed by the
Attorney General. Those other persons are persons considered by the Attorney General to be suitable to prepare and submit assessment reports for the court. This is in the process of changing as the clinic is gradually transferred to the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network.
The clinic currently employs a team of senior psychologists based in Parramatta and Broadmeadow NSW to do its work. It also has a list of authorised clinicians who perform work on a contractual basis. They are experienced clinicians in psychiatry, psychology or social work.
Jurisdiction
The clinic is required to make
clinical assessments of children and families in care matters and report to the Children's Court on those assessments. The report is given to the court ordering the assessment, which then determines whether to release it to the parties in the case.
Location
The clinic has two locations in New South Wales; in
Parramatta
Parramatta () is a suburb and major Central business district, commercial centre in Greater Western Sydney, located in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately west of the Sydney central business district on the ban ...
, Sydney and in , .
See also
*
Children's Court of New South Wales
The Children's Court of New South Wales is a court within the Australian court hierarchy established in 1905. The current iteration was established on 18 January 1988 pursuant to the which deals with criminal offences committed by children aged ...
*
List of New South Wales courts and tribunals
The following is a list of courts and tribunals in New South Wales:
List of sitting boards, commissions, courts, and tribunals
Sitting courts
The primary courts currently sitting in New South Wales are:
*Court of Appeal of New South Wales
*C ...
References
External links
*
*Children's Court Rule 2000 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/ccr692000203/
* {{URL, http://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/health-professionals/departments-clinics-and-units/childrens-court-clinic, www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au Homepage of the Clinic
Parramatta clinic's at Google mapsBroadmeadow clinic's at Google maps
New South Wales courts and tribunals
Australia, New South Wales